Dell computer firm agrees to $2.9 million discrimination settlement

HOPKINTON, MA - OCTOBER 12: An exterior view of EMC Corporation world headquarters on October 12, 2015, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In the biggest tech merger in history, Dell announced that it has agreed to buy corporate software, storage and security giant EMC for $67 billion. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images) less

HOPKINTON, MA - OCTOBER 12: An exterior view of EMC Corporation world headquarters on October 12, 2015, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In the biggest tech merger in history, Dell announced that it has agreed to ... more

Photo: Kayana Szymczak, Getty Images

Photo: Kayana Szymczak, Getty Images

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HOPKINTON, MA - OCTOBER 12: An exterior view of EMC Corporation world headquarters on October 12, 2015, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In the biggest tech merger in history, Dell announced that it has agreed to buy corporate software, storage and security giant EMC for $67 billion. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images) less

HOPKINTON, MA - OCTOBER 12: An exterior view of EMC Corporation world headquarters on October 12, 2015, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In the biggest tech merger in history, Dell announced that it has agreed to ... more

Photo: Kayana Szymczak, Getty Images

Dell computer firm agrees to $2.9 million discrimination settlement

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Female engineers at Dell computing facilities in Pleasanton and Santa Clara will share in $2.9 million in back wages and interest that an IT company, Dell EMC, agreed to shell out in a federal pay discrimination settlement, the Department of Labor announced on Monday.

Dell EMC, a subsidiary of the Texas computer giant Dell Technologies, will also pay back wages to women and African American engineers and manufacturers who the government says were paid less than white men at two plants in North Carolina, as part of the agreement to remedy alleged pay discrimination violations, the department said.

The California employees also include saleswomen and marketers.

“The Department of Labor appreciates Dell’s cooperation,” said compliance director Ondray Harris. “Together, we will ensure that the company complies with equal employment opportunity laws in (salary) matters.”

The settlement involves 284 Dell employees in California and 174 Dell employees in North Carolina over a period that began in 2012, the department said.

Dell agreed to pay without admitting liability and to “take steps” to make sure it is paying employees legally, the labor department said. The company, with headquarters in Hopkinton, Mass., is a federal contractor providing computers, networks and data storage.

In a statement, Dell said it had “long-held commitment to pay equity” and that there was “no evidence of pay discrimination.”

The company was formed when Dell Technologies acquired EMC Corp. in 2016.